Tiwa Savage Reopens on Viral Tape Scandal: “It Was Traumatic”
Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage has once again spoken about the infamous tape scandal that went viral in 2021, shedding light on how it happened and the toll it took on her and her family.
In a candid interview on The Breakfast Club, Tiwa revealed that the man in the video was her boyfriend at the time. She explained that she had no idea she was being recorded until the video surfaced online.
According to her, the boyfriend initially claimed it was a mistake—saying he wanted to save the clip on Snapchat but accidentally pressed “send.” Later, Tiwa learned the truth: it was no accident but a deliberate act tied to a bet he made with his friends.
The revelation made the betrayal even more devastating. Despite being the victim, Tiwa recalled how she still faced intense criticism, with many branding her actions as “immoral” and “dirty,” even though, as she pointed out, people often do far worse in private.
“It was painful for me. It was really painful because they put my son into it, saying I was an unfit mom,” Tiwa recounted.
The singer shared how the incident deeply hurt her parents too. At one point, people suggested her son would grow up ashamed because of her, something she described as heartbreaking.
Through it all, Tiwa credited her mother as her strongest pillar of support. She recalled her mom’s reassuring words during her darkest moments: “I’m happy you are enjoying yourself.”
Looking back, Tiwa described the ordeal as “traumatic,” stressing that she truly believed she was in a committed relationship at the time.
“He was my boyfriend, and I thought we were in a relationship. Later, I found out it was a bet with his friends,” she said.
Despite the scandal, Tiwa Savage has continued to rise above the controversy, cementing her place as one of Africa’s most influential and resilient music icons.